The film received generally positive reviews from Western critics, who praised the action sequences, costumes, and performances, but was criticized for the screenplay and editing. The film had a traditional theatrical release in countries without Disney+ where theaters had re-opened.ĭue to its overall limited theatrical release as a result of the pandemic however, the film grossed just under $70 million (not including revenue from Disney+ Premier Access) against a production budget of $200 million. Subsequently, the film was released on Septemby Disney+ for a premium fee known as Premier Access in countries where the service had launched. The film was originally scheduled for a wide theatrical release later that month, but was cancelled in the United States after being delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mulan held its world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 9, 2020. The film also received criticism for its production team largely consisting of white people, such as the hiring of Caro, rather than an Asian director. Over the course of production, the film was the subject of several controversies, including changes to the source material and filming in Xinjiang in light of the Uyghur genocide and Xinjiang internment camps. Filming took place in New Zealand and China from August to November 2018. Plans for a live-action remake began in 2010 but the project stalled in " development hell" for most of the decade. In the film, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, masquerades as a man to take her ailing father's place during a general conscription to counter the Rouran army in Imperial China. The film stars Yifei Liu in the title role, alongside Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Ron Yuan, Gong Li, and Jet Li in supporting roles. Directed by Niki Caro from a screenplay by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek, and Elizabeth Martin, it is a live-action adaptation of the 1998 Walt Disney Animation Studios film of the same name, itself based on the Chinese folklore story Ballad of Mulan. Mulan is a 2020 American fantasy action drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures.